Faith – Family- Frugality

Traffic

I see you back there. Yes, you. I can feel your music all the way over here in my car. I don’t know what song it is, but I can tell that it has a loud bass section and that your speakers aren’t installed correctly because they keep making that horrible rattle sound. I’m cool with you dancing. I mean, we hall have to drive somewhere about this time of day, every day. And I dance all the time. I can handle dancing. I can handle booger picking. Yes, I can see you picking your nose. (You should really invest in some tissues. You’re getting a ton of germs in your nose that don’t need to be up there. Plus, even though everyone does it sometimes… ew.) I can handle you putting on your mascara when you’re stopped. I get it. I run late (I run late a lot more than I’d like to admit).

All this stuff, I get.

But, there’s something that we need to talk about.

I see you staring at your crotch. I see two hands down there. While your car is running. I see an eerie light cast on your chest and face. I see you rolling towards me while we wait for the light to change, even though I haven’t moved yet. I see you not moving when the light changes until someone honks at you. And I know what you’re doing.

Still in denial? I’ll tell you. You’re really not that slick.

You’re texting while driving. Or you’re Tweeting. Or doing something that makes you not pay attention to the road. Maybe you’ll say, “Dude. Lighten up. I was stopped at a light. It’s all good.” Lies. Total lies. Was your car in drive? Were you on a public road with other people around you?

I work at a public university. I see all the stupid things that people do. That red light? Most people think it’s just a suggestion. Young adults cross the street without looking because they think that they’re invincible. They pull out in front of you just because they’re tired or waiting. Forget road rules.

What if you started rolling forward and rear ended me? What if someone who was being willfully reckless came out of no where right at you and you didn’t notice because you weren’t paying attention to the road?

And the whole “only while stopped” thing is crap. It’s a gateway. It gets you used to being on the internet in the car. It’s just a text or a tweet. It only takes a few seconds to read and reply. It only takes a few seconds to hurt someone else or yourself. It’s not worth it. Make good choices while you wait in your driving. Wait to play on your phone until you’re home.

Please, make good choices. Wait responsibly.

This post is part of the 31 Days Writing Challenge, in which a group of writers post a piece every day for the month of October.